Murray Edwards College encourages Manchester's brightest to aim for Cambridge

The visit was part of the University’s HE+ programme, a consortium-based initiative, led by Cambridge Admissions Office and supported by Murray Edwards, that aims to encourage and equip more bright students from the state sector to apply to Cambridge. A group of pupils from Loreto College in Hulme, Loreto Grammar in Altrincham and St John Rigby in Wigan were hosted by a team of Fellows, staff and students, led by Tutor for Admissions Dr Hilarie Bateman.

The HE+ programme works to support bright state-sector students and their teachers through a range of activities which include subject extension classes and masterclasses, workshops with Cambridge academics and College Schools Liaison Officers, and visits to Cambridge.

During their visit to Murray Edwards the young people were taken through the application process and a session on financing your degree, as well as ‘taster’ sessions designed for those interested in either science or humanities subjects. They had plenty of opportunity to ask questions one to one with academic and admissions staff, and were also able to chat about what it was really like to study at Cambridge with current and recent students.

Dr Bateman explained why visits like this are so valuable:

‘Making the decision about where to study and what to study at University is one of the most important choices a young person can take and we are committed to helping them get it right. We want to make sure that academically able students really understand what it means to study here and that no one should automatically feel ‘it’s not for me’ for whatever reason.

‘Murray Edwards is a young and dynamic College with a strong commitment to academic achievement and to student support. In events like these we try to give a taste of what learning here is like, to de-mystify the applications process and provide real-world advice on funding issues and career openings.

‘We are delighted to take part in new access initiatives set up by Cambridge’s Central Admissions Office in order to work with lead schools like Loreto and others. Our aim is to make sure that the best young minds don’t miss out on Cambridge – and that we don’t miss out on them. I really hope to be seeing some of these students later in the year at interview!’

Dr Tony Lyons, one of the organisers from Loreto College in Manchester added:

‘We work very hard in school to recognise, foster and promote high achievement. We have even been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education for our work raising aspirations in the inner cities - and visits like these are an important part of that initiative.

‘Our students and those from the other visiting schools have had a really enjoyable and useful time here. I am sure it will give them new enthusiasm to set their sights high and aim for the very best.’